"Let's get the girl and her brother out of here first. We can lay them to rest when we all safe back in the wilderness. And yes, I consider the wilderness safer at this point." Moira waits until someone has coaxed the girl up and moving before raising the Everflame and leading the way back through their convoluted journey. It wasn't the shortest but they knew the way, killed the dead, and disabled the traps.
"You'll get no complaint from this druid, I quite miss the sight of green about me."
Moria and Dyrm set out into the woods setting a camp for everyone. The rest of the group explores the crypt returning all the corpses to their proper place.
Roldare is trilled to see Dimira again, and upon her safe return seems to most (but not all) of his sanity returned. The journey back to Kassen is somber and uneventful. When the party finally returns to Kassen, they find a celebration underway in their honor. Mayor Uptal is there to greet you all at the gates, but his joy at your return quickly turns to horror when he learns the truth of what happened. The news quickly spreads throughout town and the harvest celebration turns melancholy. The people are grateful that the menace is ended and each person comes to thank each of you personally. The grand feast is still held in your honor, but it is not the same as it was in previous years. This year, many are drinking to help forget that they have lost friends and loved ones. Plans are made up to return to the crypt and bury the slain townsfolk and reconsecrate the place.
The Mayor comes to personally apologize for not taking your message seriously. He explains that they receive a letter similar to this from nearly every group of children sent to the Crypt. He thanks you again for your decisive action.
During the celebration, Cygar stops to talk with you for a few moments. He formally introduces himself to them as a Pathfinder and mentions he might have some work for you if you are interested. He will inform you that his organization would like to see the tomb robbers that caused this mess be called to account for their actions. He asks if you would be interested in getting to the bottom of the puzzle of who these tomb robbers were. Assuming you agree, he blends back into the crowd, saying only that he will be in touch.
Dyrm is very glad to be in the green again, despite the somberness of their discovery, it is under the open sky or leafy canvas that this particular dwarf feels most at home.
He's sorry to ruin the celebration at the town, but as the Mayor and others hear the strange truth of the dark happenings in the crypt, the druid nods and confirms things. He enjoys the feast, but also tries to comfort those who feel the pangs of loss.
The Mayor comes to personally apologize for not taking your message seriously. He explains that they receive a letter similar to this from nearly every group of children sent to the Crypt. He thanks you again for your decisive action.
"Clearly, after this, we are 'children' no more." Dyrm isn't sure what to make of this news. To find out they were ignored, even though it was understandable why, irks him some. Who knows how much better things might have gone for all. No, best to leave it at that and not dwell hatefully on the matter.
During the celebration, Cygar stops to talk with you for a few moments. He formally introduces himself to them as a Pathfinder and mentions he might have some work for you if you are interested. He will inform you that his organization would like to see the tomb robbers that caused this mess be called to account for their actions. He asks if you would be interested in getting to the bottom of the puzzle of who these tomb robbers were. Assuming you agree, he blends back into the crowd, saying only that he will be in touch.
"A pathfinder? Around here? Huh. Let us discuss this among ourselves, but I know at least a few of us wish to punish the desecraters."
"Agreed, they need to pay for their crimes. But beyond even that, they went to a lot of trouble to get those amulets, but they left everything else. Both Asar and Kessen had a number of valuables buried with them, but the only thing they took were those amulets. I've just got a bad feeling about the whole thing. For now though, I think I'll go ask Father Rantal if he recognizes this mask." Vera is going to go to Father Rantal to discusss what happened and see if he has any insight into the mask the man was wearing.
Sa'sori, keeps to herself watching and listening to the swirl of activity and reading the expressions of horror on the face of the townsfolk as Moira and Dyrm reveal the true situation in the tomb of Kassen. Sa'sori surrenders the Iron mask to Vera without comment...
Gathering her possessions she heads for the nearest Traveler's Inn in town and pays for a room... she has no intention of EVER returning to the !
Her thoughts are in turmoil... her spirit wants to cast this town behind her and begin her life anew far away from here making her own way on Her terms from now on... but her heart holds her here wanting to help her friends. Perhaps, a good night's sleep in a bed she owns, at least for the gold she pays for it, and no fear of the forced advances from the molesting Vargidans and she will have a clearer view in the morning of where her life should now take her?
Moira was not too guilty about ruining the celebrations with bad news. It was their fault they thought they were crying wolf and didn't come to help. She actually felt pretty smug. Served them right. But when her mother came running up to hug her in front of just about the whole village the feeling disappeared. She was crying, saying she knew something was wrong and begged the mayor to send help. Tears welled up in her eyes as well. She hadn't even considered what the news might mean to her mother. It added another level of somberness to the festival.
But still, she tried to enjoy things. They had survived and now they were considered adults. They could make their own decisions. Decide their path. But considering what happened in the crypt, her path was somewhat decided. Something threatened her home, killed its people, and made off with an hierloom from its founder. She needed to found out what was going on.
So first was talk to the mayor and any other hunters in the area to find out if any strangers came through. The Pathfinder was a suspicious person but he was offering help. He would be a last resort if she couldn't figure this out herself. So the next day she heads to the town hall to talk with the mayor further about the incident.
Cotton is not overly happy to be back in town. She is just on her way to sneak out on the festivities and sneak into her supposed teacher's home to liberate the last of her belongings so she can ferry them to the inn when Cygar shows up.
"That sounds plenty interesting!" she says, smiling widely. "Got some other business to take care of, though. Let me get back to you after I've talked to my friends."
Sa'sori smiles and thanks Trelvar Silvers for his hospitality... and generosity. She will tell him she will not be a bad guest and will not likely be staying any longer than it takes to resolve the mystery of the Bandits who broke into the Kassen Crypt.
She will eat her dinner in silence.. her thoughts contemplating her future. Kassen was proving again... that good people did live here, kind folks who probably would be appalled if they knew the treatment and abuse she had suffered at the hands of the Vargidans.
Sa'sori had her own plans for a suitable vengeance upon the ... in her own due time, a Calistran... NEVER forgets... and rarely forgives; but for now she wanted to make sure the innocent of this were not in danger from further threats released by the bandits, who likely were more than just 'common' bandits. They had fore-knowledge of what they sought in Kassen's tomb and came well supplied; which to Sa'sori meant they had ...far more dangerous and sinister backers~ that did not bode well for the Town of Kassen.
If they were seeking some lost treasure.. Sa'sori was quite happy to relive them of it... thinking of it as a 'donation' to her new life as an adventuring Sorceress. Also a Pathfinder in town meant.. the bandits were likely looking for a significant treasure indeed.
Sa'sori finished her meal and went to her room to stow her meager... belongings... then decided to seek out this Pathfinder and determine what brought him to Kassen... and how she could make benefit of it.
She looks around the tap-room of the Silvers for Cygar if he is present she will move to his table and take a seat, if he is not there she will ask Trelvar for his room number and go visit Cygar in his room.
"Let's talk..."
"It's not much, but it's more than we had. Investigating the other followers of Razmir is a start at least. Maybe the pathfinder knows something..."
"Sorry to disappoint," Trelvar replies, while mindlessly cleaning another of the hundreds of dirty glasses strewn across the bar-top. "He checked out late last night. Said he had "business to attend to." Good riddance I say, his gloomy staring drove half my regulars out of here last few weeks."
Sa'sori shrugs, "...guess what he wanted was not that important after all!"
She leaves the Seven Silvers and heads for the General store of Kassen. She enters and begins looking for area maps of the lands out and around Kassen... formulating for now her travel plans. She does not feel powerful enough as yet... to confront her 'real' elven father... but was a long way away, much could change in her in the time it takes to get there. She also does some inquiries into ... that might be the idea place to make her new start as a professional adventurer sorceress.
Sa'sori was not quite ready to leave Kassen... she wanted to see if any further actions by her friends were being planned, but it was clear she was looking to leave Kassen behind, FOREVER ...soon...
"He said he'd be in touch, not for us to meet him at the inn. He'll be back and I'm going to make sure I'm ready when he does. Could be gone for a while." Vera is going to procure/restock traveling gear and tell Father Rantal of her intentions to leave and join this pathfinder in pursuit of the bandits.
Well crap, Moira thinks. Whoever did this bypassed the town and its hunters completely. That meant they were well informed or on a whole other level. That did not bode well. It also meant that the outsider, the Pathfinder as he called himself, was the only one left to talk too. She has a similar idea as Sa'sori to ask Telvar but is given the same story. He left last night. Great. Now what? she ponders.
She remembered him saying headed be in touch but that didn't help. Either way she was likely going to have to leave to find this vault and these vandals so that meant supplies. And thankfully, two of her fellow crypt-breakers were at the general store. "You guys find anything?" she asks Sa'sori and Vera. "None of the other hunters have seen anyone new. So all that leaves me with is the Pathfinder and he's gone."
"I know the bandit who was left behind was a follower of Razmir. It's not much, but it's a lead. I was going to give the pathfinder another day or two to contact us before leaving though."
"One door closes, another is still open," Cotton says, shrugging. "We can still go find Kassen's Elven friend, right?"
"Easier said than done, but if we ask around we might find some leads on her whereabouts."
"Good idea," Cotton says, nodding. "We should talk to the town Wizard, at the very least. He's a studious man, he might have a book that mentions her."
A few days have passed since the events at the Crypt of the Everflame and life in the town is beginning to return to normal. The folks are still quite wary of the dark, worried that some overlooked undead fiend might stalk from the crypt.
A message arrives at the Silver's Inn by bird just after dawn addressed to the "heroes of Kassen." The letter is penned in common.
Heroes, I will be arriving on the Black Mist today. If you still intend to help, meet me when the ship docks. -Cygar
In the days before Cygar's message arrives, Cotton makes a point of visiting the town Wizard, Holgast, at his tower on the eastern edge of town. She knocks on the door until the old sage opens up and turns on the charm as best she can, asking him after Tramine, companion of Kassen.
Holgast stairs down at the little gnome, as though he was contemplating each of her words. All the while, plowing rings of smoke at the poor gnome. After a few moments lost in thought, he turns and leads the gnome into his library producing a dusty and worn tome. He thumbs through the first dozen pages before finally remarking. "The town record doesn't show that she ever visited when Kassen was alive or when he was laid to rest."
"Well, then I'm in exactly the right place!" Cotton says as she hops up on whatever chair is available, and she grins at Holgast. "You're a master wizard, right? And you know Tramine's name. You can find out where she is if anyone can, am I right?"
Holgast laughs heartily, "Right you would be. If you could afford the cost of such a spell. Not to mention the fact that if she is half the wizard Kassen made her out to be, plus 200 years of training. It's unlikely a small town wizard of my skill could hope to pierce her abjurations."
"Oooh?" Cotton purrs. "So... You don't dare to try? Afraid to try your skills?"
The Gnome grins. "Come on... Don't tell me you're not itching to know. Small-town wizard... Like you haven't been training yourself, your whole life. Come on, give it a go! You're right that I can't fork out the cash now, but hey; I'm leaving town soon one way or another. If I make money and you get me some useful info, I'll make sure some of the cash comes trickling back to you."
"HA!" He snarks sarcastically, before he takes a big hit from his pipe. [/b]"No interest in trying. I'll save my magic for more important things. You'll find few wizards foolish enough to take up banking and loans."[/b]
Sa'sori follows along with Cotton to visit the town wizard Holgast... uncertain what to expect... but hoping his is more studious ... than lascivious like Moltus Vargidan.
She is dressed today in her red Silken Ceremonial Robes... cleaned of blood and grime from her adventures in the crypt. Strapped at her hip is and across her back is her elven curve blade... the strap across her chest accentuating her formidable womanly figure. Her tatoos on her arms, slender legs and cheeks seem especially vibrant today...
Sa'sori listens respectfully, judging Holgast's measured and sagacious replies to Cotton's inquiries, judging him as a useful source of non-pretentious knowledge.
She speaks up, "Then perhaps, Master , you can answer some more closer to Kassen questions.."
Sa'sori pulls from her belt pouch a wrapped object setting in on table, "..this was found in the crypt.. under some suspicious circumstances."
She unwraps a , "...I found it on a skeleton with a crushed neck... none of the other skeletons found had such an injury.. they were obviously killed with weapons, cracked & shattered bones, except for the one bearing this trinket... its only injury was its shattered neck column..as if it had been crushed. I lack the arcane expertice to determine if this is a cursed item... it does not radiate magic.. but I would feel ...blood-guilty if I sold it to split for party shares and someone put it on and died. Can you give some advice on this?"
Holgast settles his pipe between his teeth using a nearby rag to lift the necklace from your palm. He leans in closely to inspect the item. As he shifts it between his fingers inspecting the workmanship from various angles, he mutters a few quiet incantations, testing for hidden magics upon the jewelry.
"I'm trusting that suspicious doesn't mean you took it from some helpless soul resting in a crypt." He casts a suspicious look at the two girls then lets out a dismissive grunt.
Satiated at last he finally speaks, "No enchantments that I can find, but the workmanship is fine. I'd date it from Kassen's time. I have a friend who would be interested in the gem if you're willing to sell it. 200 golden crowns should be a more than fair offer."
"We're not tomb robbers!" Cotton says, insulted. "We might filch from some bastard who attacks us after we've sent him on to Pharasma, or we might search a muder victim for clues, but we don't go jacking graves. That'd be icky."
Sa'sori smirks, "No.. the skeletons, I'm referring to.. all of them were not in graves but lying about as if killed in battle. We only had a few moments to ponder it before they all..except the one wearing this necklace got up and tried to offer/make us join them in the boneyard. We declined their 'offer' ..."
"But thank you for the appraisal... I think that would be in our party's best interests. I'll leave the necklace to you for the trade. I do have another item I'd like to know what you might know about it."
Sa'sori draws, one of the three daggers on her person, a magical dagger...
"This was also found in the crypt, and also not on a corpse.. but in a chamber with a Shadow undead creature... it bears a noble's crest and a name. What can you tell me about it... does that family still exist, and do you have any idea how it might have ended up in Kassen's tomb?"
Holgast sombers when you present him with the dagger. "Aye, that ones easy. Little lad went down to prepare the Crypt for your "trial". Keep it. I'm sure he would want it to be your reward for laying him to rest."
As for Dyrm, while he's been away from his friends somewhat, he's not been entirely idle. He went to visit his cousin Braggar and assure him he was well, and ask how he was doing in return.
And the dwarf sought out the advice of his mentor, Olmira Treesong. And to meditate on the green path and enjoy nature again.
Vera will say her goodbyes to Father Rantal and set out for the harbor at the appropriate time. She has no one else to bid farewell as her new friends all seem as interested as she is in continuing this journey.
Sa'sori grimaces, "..I figured ..as much. Was the lad... very young? I'm sorry he lost his life so... needlessly."
Sa'sori casts her eyes down clearly ashamed of the needless death... but moves on changing the subject.
She pulls out the Spellbook retrieved from the Razmiran Bandit leader found slain showing it to Holgast, "...We also recovered this Spellbook from a Razmirian intruder found slain in the crypt..slain apparently by Asar himself. Would You be interested in purchasing this from us? Both myself and are sorceress' and do not need spell books ...our magic coming natural to our nature..."
Holgast reaches out taking the book and peeling it open. "You know some people say it is bad luck to use another mans spell book. Do you believe that?"
Regardless of your answer Holgast continues his musings, "Personally, I think it's just a rumor that old wizards started to keep young apprentices from ending their tenure too early. Maybe even keep them from attempting magic beyond their own skill level." As he speaks he thumbs through the pages of your spellbook, skimming some and pausing to examine others in depth. When he reaches the blank pages, he shuts the book with a smile. "I'll take this as well, I'll offer you another 210 crowns if that seems acceptable to you?"
Sa'sori nods, "..that is acceptable. She smirks, is that sort of like the superstition that Oracles loose their gift of 'sight' if they have any intimate contact? I think that is more of a way of keeping amorous tyrants from preying upon their usually charismatic and attractive seers to retain their power. Wish there was some kind of superstition like that about sorcerers! Everyone looks at us and thinks... 'look groping bait.. cause obviously Sorceresses want to do IT'!"
She rolls her eyes... but instead of seeming exasperated, not at Holgast~ but the stereo-type, the expression actually rather fetching on the lovely Half-elf. One ... might make the mistake of thinking she was flirting with the wizard.
Holgast lets outs a big belly laugh reaching over and ruffling the young sorceress's hair. "True true, but young sorcerers like you get much better deals in trade than wrinkly old wizards like myself."
Sa'sori blinks, then snickers... then bursts out laughing...! A full hearty laugh... one not heard from her in sometime!
Wiping the tears from her eyes she comments, "...there is that!"
She grins at the old mage, "..I think I like you very much 'Master' ...", her tone when she says the word master is not in irony or a perfunctory grudging politeness... her tone says she means it,".. I know I'm not a book-learned magician, my magic is in my blood... in my nature~ I don't know magic, I AM , but I would very much be honored if you would not mind being considered my Arcane Mentor and Teacher?"
A few days have passed since the events at the Crypt of the Everflame and life in the town is beginning to return to normal. The folks are still quite wary of the dark, worried that some overlooked undead fiend might stalk from the crypt.
A message arrives at the Silver's Inn by bird just after dawn addressed to the "heroes of Kassen." The letter is penned in common.
Heroes, I will be arriving on the Black Mist today. If you still intend to help, meet me when the ship docks ready to travel. -Cygar
When the message arrives, Cotton grins merrily, pushes her mop of dark curls out of her face and tosses back her cup of chilled black tea.
"Time to abandon the comforts of civilization for the high road of adventure, chaps," she chirps. "Well, I hope we're all going. If none of you are, I am. Uh, after I've taken care of... one last errand. Yeah. Errand. See you all at the docks!"
The little Gnome pays her bill and rushes out of the inn, giggling under her breath.
If Cotton can pull her fiery prank on the old Sorcerer without risking capture, she will. If not... she'll at least write some very insulting graffiti on the wall around his estate, making it clear what he does to pretty underage apprentices.
"I hope we're not going by boat. Never ridden one before, but I prefer steady earth beneath my feet." Vera will gather her things and head for the docks.
Moira approaches as the others talk a little. The magical bag they got from the crypt belayed nothing of the vast number of items stuffed in it. She tended to go prepared when she could. Arnama drilled that one into her. I do too," she says to Vera. "But I am guessing we will need to take a ship afterwards. Had Asar gotten any stronger before we got there the whole village could have been in danger. So I don't care where they went. Whoever did this is going to pay."
As you approach the docks, Cygar is sitting on a crate in front of a river barge with the name "Black Mist" painted on the side. Several dock hands are busy loading crates onto the barge.
"I guess we're taking a ship after all. So, where are we going?" Vera asks approaching Cygar, bowing slightly by way of greeting.
Sa'sori arrives... she is packed... in fact all her worldly possessions, few that she owns, are with her. Everyone gets the distinct impression... Sa'sori does not mean to return.
That said she is all smiles and well wishing to those she meets in the street. Her account at the Seven Silvers squared away, she is done with Kassen... her road open to her!
Her thoughts,
Smiling, "Good morning 'Pathfinder' ... what quest have you for us to begin, and how much profit do you think we'll likely find?"
Her words are friendly and her tone is one of cordial jesting.
Cygar returns the bow, "Cygar will do fine, if you please. My organization is not always welcome and I prefer my association be kept as minimal as possible."
"As far as where, I've arranged passage on this barge with Captain Walren to Tamran. I have a friend there named Reginar, he knows the city well and has been keeping an eye on the masked followers of Razmir. Make contact with him on your arrival, and he should be able to point you in the right direction."
"Should I take that to mean you won't be coming with us?" Vera asks surprised, but not discouraged.
"I assume you know more than that. Why should we go to Tamran? What are they trying to do? And how did they get past all the hunters? Kassen's ranger's aren't incompetent. They somehow slipped past all of them, all the traps without setting them off, and back out without a whisper. What are we up against here and why are you concerned?" Moira, of course feels the need to defend her mentor but also wants a little more before following this stranger blindly.
Sa'sori chuckles at Moira's paranoia, "..come-on ... Tamran is the Capital of , bet you've Never even been there! Even if we ultimately decide not to go through with this quest, which I highly doubt... considering your stake in finding those bandits, do we really care or need much of an excuse to go there? There is a whole big world out there... just waiting for us to see it!"